Ferries to Guernsey
Ferries to Guernsey at a glance
- Operator: Brittany Ferries / Condor Ferries Channel Islands
- Main UK routes: Poole and Portsmouth to Guernsey
- Arrival port: St Peter Port
- Quicker UK option: Poole, usually around 3 hours
How to reach Guernsey by ferry
Guernsey is the smaller, calmer-feeling alternative to Jersey, with ferries arriving at St Peter Port from the English south coast. Guernsey services are best checked through the Brittany Ferries / Condor Ferries Channel Islands route network, with the main UK crossings leaving from Poole and Portsmouth.
For most travellers the choice is simple: Poole if you want the quicker sea crossing, Portsmouth if that port is easier to reach or the sailing time works better. A car is useful for exploring the island, but you can also travel as a foot passenger and base yourself in St Peter Port.
This page focuses on Guernsey specifically. For the wider comparison with Jersey and the other islands, see our Channel Islands hub.
Quick verdict
Choose Poole to Guernsey if crossing time matters most. Choose Portsmouth to Guernsey if Portsmouth is easier to reach or the longer sailing fits your plans. Choose Guernsey over Jersey if you want St Peter Port, coastal walks, Sark and Herm, and a quieter island base.
Map with ferry crossings to Guernsey
The map shows the main ferry routes to Guernsey, arriving at St Peter Port, from Poole and Portsmouth on the English south coast, plus selected connections with St Malo and Jersey.
Which ferry to Guernsey should you choose?
All routes arrive at St Peter Port, so the right one comes down to where you start and how long you want to spend at sea. Use this as a quick guide, then check live sailings for your dates.
| Route | Best for | Crossing | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poole to Guernsey | A quicker UK crossing, and travellers from Dorset and south-west England | Usually around 3 hours | Seasonal sailings and limited vehicle space |
| Portsmouth to Guernsey | Travellers for whom Portsmouth is the easier port to reach | Longer, often around 10 hours on traditional or overnight-style sailings | Some sailings can be shorter or timed differently, so check your exact date |
| St Malo to Guernsey | France to Guernsey trips and some island-hopping itineraries | Often around 2 hours when direct sailings operate | Check exact dates before booking hotels |
| Jersey to Guernsey | Combining both main Channel Islands | Selected inter-island sailings | Do not assume daily, year-round connections |
Ferries from the UK to Guernsey
The main UK departure ports for Guernsey are Poole and Portsmouth. Poole is usually the faster sea crossing, while Portsmouth takes longer but is often easier to reach from London, the south-east or central England.
When you are comparing the two, look at the whole journey rather than ferry time alone: the road time to each port can matter as much as the crossing itself.
Poole to Guernsey
Poole is usually the quicker UK route to Guernsey, arriving at St Peter Port in around 3 hours. It is a practical choice for cars and short breaks, and it suits travellers from Dorset, the south coast and south-west England who would rather not drive further east to Portsmouth.
As with any Channel Islands crossing, timings vary by date, tides, vessel and season, so treat the published duration as a guide and check your specific sailing.
Portsmouth to Guernsey
Portsmouth is the longer crossing to Guernsey, often around 10 hours depending on the sailing, so it is more of a slow ferry journey than a quick hop. It can still be the right choice if Portsmouth is much easier for you to reach than Poole, or if the sailing pattern suits your dates better.
Sailings can be daytime, evening or overnight-style, so check which applies to your date and what onboard options are available rather than assuming a particular set-up.
Ferries from France to Guernsey
Guernsey can be linked with St Malo, and direct sailings can be a useful way to combine the island with Brittany. These services are more date-dependent than simply choosing between Poole and Portsmouth from the UK, so check the timetable before building hotels or onward ferries around them.
If you mainly want the shortest France to Channel Islands hop, St Malo to Jersey is usually the simpler first comparison. Guernsey still works very well as part of a longer Channel Islands itinerary, especially if you want to include Sark or Herm. For the broader picture, see our Channel Islands hub.
Can you travel between Guernsey and Jersey by ferry?
Yes, and it can be a good way to combine the two main Channel Islands on one trip. Inter-island schedules can change by season and by operator, so they should not be treated as a fixed daily, year-round service.
Do not build a tight same-day plan around an assumed sailing unless the exact dates support it. If your trip depends on moving between the islands, check the timetable before booking accommodation on both sides. For the other island, see our ferry to Jersey guide.
Sark and Herm from Guernsey
One of Guernsey’s biggest advantages is that it is the natural base for two smaller islands:
- Sark is car-free and slow-paced, reached by passenger ferry from Guernsey. It is a good day trip or quiet overnight stay.
- Herm is close to Guernsey and easy to reach for a simple beach day.
Neither is a direct UK ferry route. You travel to Guernsey first, then take a local sailing onward, so factor that into your plans.
Taking a car to Guernsey
A car ferry is useful if you want to carry luggage and explore beyond St Peter Port. A few things are worth knowing:
- Driving is on the left, as in the UK.
- Roads can be narrow, so take it steadily.
- A car helps for coastal spots and rural stays, but foot passengers can manage well if staying in St Peter Port and using buses and taxis.
- Sark and Herm are not normal car destinations, so leave the car on Guernsey if you visit them.
Foot passengers, bikes, pets and luggage
You can travel to Guernsey with or without a vehicle, but it is worth checking the route-specific rules for your date:
- Foot passengers: check the check-in time and terminal access for your departure port.
- Pets: travelling with a dog or cat is possible on many routes, with rules depending on the route, booking type and documentation. See our guide to travelling with pets on ferries.
- Bikes: Guernsey is rewarding to cycle, but confirm the current operator rules before booking.
- Luggage: bringing a car is the simplest way to travel with plenty of luggage.
For longer crossings, pack as if you may not return to the car during the sailing. Download films, books or maps before you travel, and be careful with mobile data at sea. Travelling with young children? See our tips for travelling with kids on the ferry, and if you are prone to seasickness, these tips can help.
When to book ferries to Guernsey
- Summer is the busiest time, and car space can sell out before foot-passenger space.
- Sailings and frequencies vary by season, so do not assume the same pattern all year.
- Check live timetables before booking your accommodation, especially if you are adding Sark, Herm or Jersey.
- Book early for peak dates, when demand and prices are highest.
Ferry schedule and timetable to Guernsey
Use the timetable as a planning aid, not as a fixed year-round schedule. Guernsey ferry times can vary by season, tide, route and vessel, so always check the live operator timetable before booking accommodation or a tight connection.
| Route | Sailings | Duration | Operator / notes |
|---|
About Guernsey and St Peter Port
Guernsey lies in the English Channel, closer to the French coast of Normandy than to mainland Britain. The island is known for its coastal scenery, wartime history, quiet bays and slower pace, with St Peter Port as the natural arrival point by ferry.
From the harbour, the town centre is only a short walk away. Distances on the island are modest, but the roads are narrow and the best trips are rarely about rushing around the whole island in one go. Guernsey works best when you give yourself time for bays, viewpoints and a ferry hop to Sark or Herm.
Guernsey or Jersey?
If you are still deciding between the islands, here is the short version:
- Guernsey: smaller and calmer, with St Peter Port, coastal walks and easy onward trips to Sark and Herm.
- Jersey: larger, with more beaches and restaurants, St Helier as a lively base, and often the easier first Channel Islands trip.
For the full comparison, see our Channel Islands hub, or read the ferry to Jersey guide.
Our verdict: the best ferry to Guernsey
- Best for the quicker UK crossing: Poole to Guernsey.
- Best if port access or timing matters more: Portsmouth to Guernsey.
- Best for island-hopping: Guernsey with Sark and Herm, and possibly Jersey if the dates work.
Guernsey is the better Channel Islands choice if you want a quieter base and easy access to Sark and Herm. Jersey is usually the easier first island if you want more beaches, restaurants and a livelier base. Still weighing up the islands? Head back to the Channel Islands hub or compare the ferry to Jersey.
I would love to take the ferry to Guernsey, but 7 hours from Portsmouth? Is there no faster alternative?